The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be very different compared to previous tournaments when it comes to soccer fans drinking alcohol.
Qatar is an Islamic state which means, selling, serving, and consuming alcohol is highly regulated in Qatar.
The UK Government has stated that it is an ‘offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public’ in Qatar, and drinking in a public place could ‘result in a prison sentence of up to six months’ and a fine of up to R14000.
Tourists bringing in alcohol is also prohibited.
Alcohol will be available for guests over 21 years of age at licensed bars and restaurants, with the exception of the Arcadia Festival for public drinking.
According to The Times of London the Arcadia Festival is a fan area situated two miles outside of Doha which will serve alcohol for 19 hours each day between 10 am to 5 am.
Fans were under the impression that they would be able to buy alcohol at designated areas during the World Cup with Budweiser being the official sponsor.
However, two days before the start of the tournament, Qatar’s Al Thani royal family announced a total ban on the sale of alcohol around stadium sites in a shockingly late U-turn.
Alcohol won’t be for sale inside stadiums during matches except in hospitality boxes. There is a single-state-controlled off-license, but this is restricted to residents who have a valid permit.
‘While alcohol will be available to those who want a drink in designated areas, it will not be openly available on the streets,’ said Qatar’s World Cup CEO, Nasser Al Khater, in September, according to BBC Sport.
‘There are plans in place for people to sober up if they’ve been drinking excessively,’ he added. ‘It’s a place to make sure that they keep themselves safe, they’re not harmful to anybody else.’
Fans are also expected to dress moderately when in public. Women are expected to cover their shoulders and avoid wearing mini skirts, while both genders are advised not to wear shorts or tank tops.
Swearing and making rude gestures in public is considered an illegal offence and can result in being jailed or deported.
Public intimacy could lead to arrest, while homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death.
Tournament organisers, however, have insisted that ‘everyone is welcome’ and there will be no restrictions on LGBTQ+ people staying together in the same room.
Al Khater also told Sky News last month that gay fans will be able to hold hands without fear of being punished.
‘All we ask for is for people to respect our culture,’ he said. ‘At the end of the day, as long as you don’t do anything that harms other people, if you’re not destroying public property, as long as you’re behaving in a way that’s not harmful, then everybody’s welcome and you have nothing to worry about.’
Picture: Getaway Gallery
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